Burial-vault.



F. U SBARLE.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION PILED'JUNE 25, 1910.

* Patented Apr.30,19 12.

mmlm m h t n tering devices.

FRANK GURBINGTQN SEARLEJOF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

BriRIAL-vAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedApr. so, 1912.

Application filed June 25, 1910. Serial No. 568,925.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. SEARLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vvilmington, Newcastle county, Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Vaults; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to burial vaults, and the like; and the objects and nature of my invention will be readily understood by those'skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now consider my preferred embodiment from among other formations within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings;-Figure 1, is a pers ective view of the mold box with the one at box arranged therein, the parts being assembled. in readiness to receive the concrete filling, the mold box being partially broken away to show one of the casket box supporting and cen- Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view throu 'h thi mold box placed in the grave and containing the casket box showing the concrete filling. Fig. 3, is a cross section of the parts assembled and in a grave showing the concrete filling. Fig. 4, is a detail perspective view of one of the kct box supporting and centering devices. I

l n the drawings, 1, is what 1 term a mold box or receptacle. 'lhis mold box is usually oblong in shape and open at the lop with closed or imperforalc bottom, end and side walls. lhis box is usually strongly conslructcd of suitable sheet metal of the necessary large size to receive a casket box 2, and form a cement or concrete receiving space completely around or iuclosing the casket box. The casket box 2, is also strongly con slructed, preferably of sheet metal, and is provided with an upwardly arched or domeshaped slip cover 20, provided with top loop handles 31. This cover is formed with a depending llange to fit down on the oxterior of the box, and the interior of the cover can be provided with suitable packing material 22, to fit the top edges of the box walls and form a fluid tight joint between the box and cover. This casket box has closed or imperforate walls and the cover is also imperforate and the entire interior surfaces of the box and cover are preferably enameled or provided with any suitable impervious coating 23, to render the box absolutely tight. This box is designed to receive the coffin or casket when ready for burial, and when the box cover is applied, to tightly inclose and seal the casket against entrance of cement or moisture to the interior of the box and to serve as a sustaining core box for the cement as hereinafter described, and an inner protecting inclosure for the casket.

Means are provided for centering the casketbox 2, within the outer or mold box 1, and for supporting said casket box a distance above the bottom of said mold box. For instance, I show four rests, pillars or supports 3, a1"a1-1ged on the bottom of the mold box and at the four corner portions thereof to receive the four corners of the casket box and .maiiit-ain the casket box spaced from the side and end walls as well as a distance above the bottom wall of the mold box. Each support 3, can be suitably bent up from sheet metal, or can be a casting or drop forging, or if so desired, can be formed of ceramic orother material, but is preferably fixed to the floor of the mold box.

If so desired, the supports can be formed of copper or other suitable non-corrosive metal. In the specific example illustrated, each support is right-angled in formation with vertical walls haviu bottom feet or bases 30, resting onand secured to the floor, and at the required distance above said floor having iuturncd horizontal casket box supporting lluugcs or ledges 31, while the angular-1y arranged stop walls 32, project above the horizontal plane of the ledges 31, to cugagexi vertical end and side walls of the casket box to maintain lhe box on the ledges ill and properly spaced or centered the required distances from the vertical walls of the mold box.

' he mold and casket boxes are designed" or less attractive in appearance as Well as strong and durable in structure. fl hen ready for burial, the collin is placed in the casket box and the cover is properly applied thereto to tightly seal the same The casketbox is properly arranged on the supports in the mold box, the side and. end walls of the meld box extending; considerably above the horizontal plane or the casket box cover. The :inold box with the casket box therein. and containing the casket can then be lowered into the grave and the mold box is then coniipletcly filled with suitable grouting, cement, concrete or other suitable plastic zinaterial so as to entirely and completely inclose the casket box and term a seamless continuous sealing and inclosing Wall between the bottom, sides and ends of the casket box and the corresponding Walls of the mold box and entirelycovering the casket box to the level of the top edges of the mold box. The loop handles of the casket to". cover receive the plastic material and u? ticthc cover thereto, and the arch cover c casket box sustains the Weight of the and icreon caus the concrete load sustaining arch. The casketb r; :ls also form conmicte reinforcing elc tending to tie the concrete Walls tor and to the box walls and at the same .UH'Q holding; the one ct box properly cen- .l until ti] o coiicrcte se s.

at so desired, the Walls of the grave can be u li ed the mold to 'l'orm the iuclos H l ell of concrete around the casket iertical box of my invention, suitable end supports being provided to hold the casket box up from the bottom of the grave to permit the formation of the concrete Wallthereunder.

The advantages of thus entirely inclosing the casket box in a seamless permanent shell or casing of concrete (and I use concrete in a broad sense to include any suitable plastic material) are obvious and Well un derstood Without elucidation l t hat I claim.

1.. In. burial vaults, and the like, com prising n'lold boxes having supports on the floors thereof carrying casket boxes, each support having an elevated ledge to receive a casketboX and by which the casket box is held spaced from the floor of the mold box and Vertical stop portions to hold the casket box centered on the support and spaced from the 'alls of the mold box.

2. in a burial vault, or the like, bottom corner supports for a casket box, each provided with elevated angular-1y arranged supporting flanges on which the bottom of the box is adapted to rest with angularly arranged vertical stop walls adapted to engage the side and end walls of the box at the corners thereof to hold the box a 'ainst lateral displacements.

ln testimony whereof I atllx my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

'l ltilllK CURRTNGTON SEARLE.

Wit nesses.

A li-1111mm) Knnt'rz, tonnn'r nil. BARR. 

